Up-to-the-minute advice, information, resources, and, on occasion, commentary on federal and New Jersey state income taxes, and the various New Jersey property tax rebate programs, and insights and observations on tax policy and professional tax practice, by 40-year veteran tax professional Robert D Flach.

A
heads up to tax bloggers – Kay tells us “The
94th Tax Carnival will be here on Jan. 2 to help you nurse New Year's
celebration hangovers by getting a head start on the 2012 filing season.”

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Dr Jean Murray says that, “Probably the
most-commented-on article I've ever written is the one about cutting employees
pay.”She goes on to revisit the
subject in “Employers Can't Cut Pay Without Employee Consent” at ABOUT.COM:US
BUSINESS LAW/TAXES.

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I seem to recall mentioning recently that Tronald Dump had been quiet lately
(and thanking God for the blessing).I
had not heard that the self-absorbed fool was planning to “host” a Republican
debate.

“Karl Rove blasted Donald Trump this weekend,
saying his upcoming Newsmax debate host gig is a big ‘ego trip’ for the
real-estate mogul and reality-show host, and that the Republican National
Committee should discourage the 2012 GOP candidates from attending.”

It
is hard for me to believe that I would ever agree with Karl Rove!It appears that recognition of Trump’s idiocy
and ginormous ego transcends political philosophies and is truly bi-partisan.

Reading
the reaction of some of the candidates to the event, and its host, quoted in
the article I was pleased to see them correctly agreeing on something, and
actually make sense on an issue.

Speaking
of the Donald being a “reality show host” – it seems to me that the Republican debates
have become a kind of weekly reality show.

The
only thing that would shock me about the Dumpster is hearing that he actually
did something that was not totally self-serving.

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Good luck to Russ Fox of TAXABLE TALK, who explains in “When Silver is Better than Gold” that he is moving from expensive California to more business-friendly and
less taxing Nevada, joining many others in giving up the 10% state income tax
of CA.

One
reason for the move –

“I’ve sold my house in Irvine, and am in the
process of purchasing a home in the Las Vegas area. I will be in a much
friendlier business environment, with a lower cost of living. The home I’m
purchasing is nearly double the size of my current home and costs almost 50%
less than what I sold my current home for.”

I,
too, have been thinking about leaving my highly-taxed home state of New Jersey
and moving to Pike County in Pennsylvania.I plan to investigate the move more seriously after the end of the
upcoming 2012 tax filing season.It
should not affect my business – as at least 75% of my clients mail their tax “stuff”
to me.

Russ,
best wishes for success in your new location!

THE
FINAL WORD:

I
have accepted the death of the “variety” tv genre, despite, or perhaps as a
result of, occasional pathetic bottom of the barrel attempts at revival by
lesbian comics/talk show hosts (past and present).

What
passes for variety today are clones and adaptations of British talent
competitions, which, let’s be honest, are all to some degree based on the
reality tv concept of humiliation (at least half of those who tune in to DWTS
do so hoping to see one of the celebrities – the contestants rarely come close
to being described as “stars” – fall flat on their arse).

The
only place to find real variety tv today is on PBS, usually in the form of
reruns or compilations.I enjoy the
weekly rebroadcasts of THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW on WLIW and NJTV, and wish that
more classic variety shows would be rerun on public tv.

As
the holiday season is now with us I truly miss the annual variety specials of
Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Perry Como, Andy Williams and the like, and also miss
the days when true variety shows filled the airwaves.I hear Michael Buble has one coming up soon –
so maybe there is hope.

3 comments:

About your comments on "variety" shows - I grew up with those you mentioned plus the others like Red Skelton, Carol Burnett and even Dean Martin show was a favorite. I see it as the passing of an era and also the decline of pride, class, dignity and respect in people and country in general.

I watch alot of 40's and 50's movies (Bogart & Bacall,(I even have a autograph picture of Bacall from the 50's) Hepburn & Tracy, John Payne, etc. etc.) and am always in wonderment over the difference between them and todays flicks - the dress, the talk, the gentle swagger and ladies were ladies not tramps. Just sad to see it all happen...

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